Bodh Gaya - About, History, Tourist place, Trip cost

Bodh Gaya is located in the Gaya district of the Indian state of Bihar. Bodhgaya has historical and religious significance, it is the place where Mahatma Buddha attained enlightenment under a Peepal tree. Bodh Gaya is considered one of the holiest cities in the world for Buddhist monks. Knowledge and respect ceremony is organized every year in Bodh Gaya by the enlightened committee. The Mahabodhi Temple located in Bodh Gaya was given the status of World Heritage by UNESCO in the year 2002. It is an ancient tourist destination where lakhs of tourists visit every year.

Bodhgaya is one of the ancient cities. Around 500 BC, here Gautama Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree on the banks of the Phalgu river and did severe penance for three days and nights. After three days and nights of severe penance, Gautama (the former name of Buddha) attained enlightenment, after which he came to be known as Buddha. After this he meditated at different places for 7 weeks and then in Sarnath he preached his first sermon and religion. The followers of Buddha gradually started coming to this place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment on the full moon day in the month of Vaishakh. Gradually this place came to be known as Bodh Gaya.

The idol of Buddha installed in the Mahabodhi Temple located in Bodh Gaya is actually in the same state in which Lord Buddha sat and did penance and it is believed that this idol was installed by Lord Buddha himself. After the opening of the Mahabodhi temple, a Buddha monk started living there, in whose dream one day Lord Buddha said that this idol was installed by him only. The nature of the same idol has also been established in the temples of Nalanda and Vikramshila in Bihar. Ashoka the Great had built many monuments in this city.

Bodh Gaya is one of the major pilgrimage and tourist attractions of India. Bodhgaya has historical importance due to which it is one of the major tourist destinations of India. Mahatma Buddha attained enlightenment at this place, that is why lakhs of pilgrims and tourists come here every year. The main tourist place of Bodh Gaya is the Mahabodhi Temple and the Great Buddha Statue. Apart from this, there are many places to visit here, which are well explained below.

The Mahabodhi Temple is a famous Buddhist Vihara site located in Bodh Gaya. This has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This monastery is located at the same place where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in the 6th century BC.

The Great Buddha Statue is one of the Buddha pilgrimage and tourist routes which is located in Bodhgaya Bihar. This Buddha statue is 25 meters high in the open air sitting on a lotus in meditation posture. It took 7 years for 12000 masons to build this statue of Mahatma Buddha. The statue is a mixture of sandstone blocks and red granite.

The Bodhi tree is a peepal tree located in the Mahabodhi temple complex in Bodh Gaya city of Gaya district of Bihar. Mahatma Buddha attained enlightenment in the sixth century BC (531) under this tree. Bodhi means knowledge, Bodhi tree means 'tree of knowledge'. This tree is of the fourth generation.

The Royal Bhutan Monastery is a Buddhist temple located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. Important examples from the life of Gautama Buddha have been engraved in the form of clay carvings in this monastery. This monastery was built by the King of Bhutan as a tribute to Mahatma Buddha. This temple is famous for its magnificent architecture, peace and 7 feet high statue of Buddha.

Metta Buddharama Temple is a Thai temple located in Bodh Gaya. The temple has Thai temple style architecture which has been made attractive by using stainless steel exterior cladding and mirrors. The floor of the main temple is made of wood and below the temple a meditation hall with marble floor has been made.

Dungeshwari is a cave located in Bodh Gaya which is also known as Mahakal Caves. It is believed to be the same cave that protected Lord Buddha for 6 years before attaining enlightenment. These caves now have many Buddhist and Hindu temples. This cave is widely visited by pilgrims following the journey of Lord Buddha.

Bihar is a region with a hot climate. The normal temperature in summer season in Bodh Gaya remains between 26 degree to 40 degree Celsius and in winter it remains between 10 degree to 25 degree Celsius. It receives a normal rainfall of 102.5 mm during the summer season. According to pilgrims and tourists, the best time to visit Bodh Gaya is between December and February. However, it remains pleasant between the months of October and March.

In Bodhgaya, you will get to see from simple hotels to 5 star hotels, whose price can range from 500 to 5,000. You can book a hotel according to the number of nights you are coming to stay in Bodhgaya. Online hotel booking service is also available here as well as you can book hotel offline as well. To book hotels online, you will find many websites on the internet from where you can book hotels according to your budget.